I ain't got nothing but love, Girl [OPEN!]

[gunsmokeangel]

Characters: Vash and anyone around!
Location: In front of the mission board
Rating: PG?
Time: Jan 02, morning.
Description: Vash is scoping out the missions, and keeping an eye out if anyone wants to partner up for the local or investigative missions.

Comments

[dead_black_eyes]

L had, despite not wanting a formal job of any kind, grown somewhat bored. Though he secretly kept a "case file" for the overarching mystery of BREW and Death City itself, the sheer scope of such a case was overwhelming for anyone, even the world's three greatest detectives. There was no way to know what kind of headway he'd been able to make when he'd been here before, because his memories of that time had seemingly been absorbed by his brain or lifted straight out of his head by some unknown but very inconvenient force.

Today he was standing near the missions board, a slouched, frail-looking man who appeared more diminutive than he actually was, noticing that there was a new and oddly specific focus on investigators. It was tempting... L had missed having a game to play, something to focus on besides the rusted bell in Zone Two and the unchanging number of tiles on the kitchen floor in his Casualty Communal apartment.

Noticing a tall man in a long red coat, L edged aside, never one to be particularly trusting around strangers or friends alike.

[gunsmokeangel]

Usually people who acted avoidant or antisocial where the kinds of people others knew to instinctively steer clear of, but Vash never payed too much thought to a silly little thing like that.

Besides. You made friends with cool people by talking to everyone.

"So, what do you think of the new types of missions? Pretty interesting, huh?" Vash asked, grinning broadly and settling next to L before the postings. "Looks like they'll be a pretty nice challenge for people who are more or less partnered up."

[dead_black_eyes]

L jumped slightly when the blond man addressed him, seeming to need a moment to regain his bearings.

"I... think they're interesting, from what I've seen," he said cautiously, unnerved by the wide grin. "As for a challenge... I wouldn't know. I've never been 'partnered up', so to speak, and the one time I attempted to resonate ended pretty disastrously."

[gunsmokeangel]

Vash's mind went to the morning he attempted to weild Grit at the daily training session.

"I'm one to one, myself. A bad resonation sure showed me to be grateful for a good one." Vash relaxed, either unaware of or not the least bit bothered by L's unease. He studied the board a little longer. "The tracking mission looks like it could be intresting. Montana's kinda north of here, isn't it? Bet that's gonna be cold!"

[dead_black_eyes]

"This time of year? Most likely, especially if it requires going up into the mountains," L sighed. What a drag.

He paused. "I don't like talking to people I know nothing about," he said bluntly. "So... you should tell me your name, where you came from, and your designation as either a Meister or a Weapon."

[gunsmokeangel]

There was a brief moment of hesitation as Vash deliberated on whether or not he was going to be on company manners or not. Vash ruled in L's favor.

"That sounds fair to me! Where are my manners? My name is Vash! I hail from the planet Gunsmoke, and I am a meister with the seal-people-in-bubbles ability! I also work at the grocery store, my favourite color is red, I am a boxers man and I wear a size 10 shoe!"

Well. Mostly in L's favor. At least every part of that exposition was true.

"How about your name in exchange for all that" Vash asked.

[dead_black_eyes]

If that was all the incredibly cheerful, trusting and open man wanted in return for his own information, L supposed that he could spare him the same lie he gave everyone else.

"It's Rue Ryuzaki," he said, with a light, one-shouldered shrug to demonstrate that it wasn't actually a big deal to give it away. "How does that Meister ability work? I can't say I've encountered someone with it before."

[gunsmokeangel]

"Nice to meet you, Rue!" What was in a name, anyway?

"I haven't seen anyone at training with it, either, but I stumbled onto it when there was someone I wanted to protect. I really concentrate on that feeling and Pop! There they are in a bubble and nothing can get in to harm them. When I stop thinking about it, the bubble goes away and the person is free again." Vash explained to the best of his ability. "I've been meaning to ask Dr. Stein about it, but it keeps slipping my mind at training. Besides, I can't make the bubble go around myself."

"Do you want me to show you?" Vash asked with an almost impish grin. He needed practice, and that required volunteers.

[dead_black_eyes]

In many worlds, names, even true names, didn't mean very much. But in L's world, they could mean the difference between life and death.

He considered Vash's offer after even more considerate exposition. It was tempting... he was certainly curious, but then again...

"Would that render me helpless and immobile?"

[gunsmokeangel]

"I'm not really sure, I haven't gotten to try it on other people lately, and no one's wanted to break out before. I just know it keeps aggressive individuals out."

Vash thought about it for a second, then he issued a puzzled expression.

"That's not what you're into, is it?"

[dead_black_eyes]

L blinked, taking an unconscious step back. He actually made a living out of expecting every possible outcome to a situation, but... he wasn't sure how to take that statement. And here, in public, he couldn't exactly turn off his computer screen and mull it over before replying.

"I never said that, I just asked if it would. It's not unreasonable to want to know what to expect, is it?"

He didn't deny it outright. On the offchance that this guy ended up seeing his Weapon form, it'd be difficult for a pair of handcuffs to make that argument.

[gunsmokeangel]

"Not at all," Vash agreed. "I guess the answer is I'm not really sure, and no one's going to find out until I have a guinea pig." His smile looked a little impish. "I could always use some volunteers!"

After all, L hadn't denied it, but on the other hand, an enthusiastic "yes" might have traumatized Vash for the rest of the day. The handcuffs would certainly deserve some more teasing though.

[dead_black_eyes]

L still looked apprehensive; the man was a stranger to him (even though they lived on the same hall), and his own uncertainty concerning his ability was... mildly alarming, actually. Still... if it worked, and it served as a shield... it wouldn't be the worst thing, would it?

"Have you used this ability before? If I volunteered, I wouldn't want to be the very first."

[gunsmokeangel]

"I've used it on humans before, and I've been practicing using it on stray cats. No one's been hurt yet. I don't imagine it would, if meister abilities are supposed to support combat." Vash admitted honestly.

Vash wasn't going to lie about the certainty of any effects it might have, but he could have tried to sound at least a little more reassuring.

[dead_black_eyes]

L wasn't a very trusting person in general; he suspected things that were completely innocent, things that he had no reason to be suspicious of... but when bad experiences turned him off of things, he couldn't help but be a little extra cautious. And weren't most people, when it came right down to it? L's first and last resonation had gone disastrously. Both he and Mello had wound up injured, even though that wasn't supposed to happen.

Still. L wasn't sure he wanted to live and work in Death City with his head tucked inside a shell.

"I'm open to trying," he said bluntly. "If a stray cat and the other humans that have been involved can survive it, I probably can."

[gunsmokeangel]

In every respect, it was a good thing L had no idea what kind of person he was dealing with. Even the people who would consider Vash a friend could report he was nothing but a handful, and even the very best of intentions sent him skipping merrily down the road to hell.

It was a good thing this experiment was relatively harmless. Vash didn't waste the effort on trying to look reassuring.

"Great! Now let me try and see if I can make it happen!" Vash chirped, before jogging a few steps back, and dropping his enthusiasm down to a more serious level of focus. He had to convince himself something could fly out of nowhere in the very next instant, and this young man was going to be the target.

At least L had a few moments to change his mind.